Christmas Afternoon at home

After we spent the morning at Boompaw and Nawnaw's house, we headed home to celebrate Christmas with the three of us. Meg was so excited about all the gifts under the tree. We were able to convince her to help us unload the car and put up her gifts from the previous celebrations before we started to open our presents together.


The tree had gifts galore under it just waiting to be opened. Meg helped Daddy pass out the gifts then we started opening gifts. We always take turns opening gifts so everyone can see what the other person received. We had a great time.

***Meg in front of the tree***
***Meg's new bath and body works products***
***Mommy after opening her new wallet***

***Daddy opening a present***

***Meg and Daddy opening one of her gifts***

We had a great Christmas this year.

Isn't this cute!!!

Christmas Morning

After we left Nina's house on Christmas Eve, we headed over to Boompaw & Nawnaw's (Jarrad's dad and step-mom) to spend the night so we would all be there first thing on Christmas morning.


Christmas morning, I had to wake Meg up. When I went into the room she was sleeping in, I started to rub her back and get her up. She mumbled to me - five more minutes...but, when I told her Santa had come, she jumped up out of bed. She went running down the hallway and was so excited about everything that Santa brought her.

***Santa's delivery***

***Jarrad and Meg looking at all her new toys***

***Meg's new kitty***

After Boompaw and Daddy got all of her new toys out of their packaging (toy companies should really rethink how they package toys...is there a reason it takes 30+ minutes to get a toy for a four-year old out of the box?), we heard a knock at the door - wouldn't you know it, Santa walked in.

***Meg and Santa***

We had a great Christmas with Boompaw and Nawnaw.

Christmas Eve

The years that we stay in town for Christmas, we always have the same routine. Christmas Eve at Jarrad's mom's house, Christmas morning at Jarrad's dad's.

Christmas Eve, we also decorate cookies for Santa. Meg really loves this. This year, Jarrad even got in the spirit and decorated a few. I was impressed with his creativeness.

After cookie decorating, we sat down for a wonderful dinner to eat and visit. Meg was so excited about opening gifts, she just kept asking and asking. I remember when I was growing up that I used to be so impatient with the adults because they never seemed to be in a hurry to open the presents. Eventually, she won and we opened gifts. Nina completely spoiled all of us (as usual).

***Jarrad decoraing a snowflake***

***Meg adding the final touches***

***Meg & Daddy***

***Meg on Christmas Eve***

***Meg "sleeping" on one of Jarrad's gift boxes***

Merry Thanksgiving!

Merry Thanksgiving? I know you're probably thinking I've lost my mind, but here is the story. After I got married, I started spending every other Christmas & Thanksgiving with my family. So, one year we're with my side of the family in SA for Thanksgiving and then we're in DFW for Christmas with my in-laws. The following year, we flip and spend Thanksgiving with my in-laws and Christmas with my family.

While we're spending Thanksgiving with my family, we also celebrate Christmas...which leads me to Merry Thanksgiving :) We had a wonderful time celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family this year. Meg, of course, was spoiled rotten by her grandparents, aunts and uncles.

We got up first thing on Thanksgiving day to let Meg see if Santa brought her anything...surprise, he did. Meg was very excited to see that Santa knew we were celebrating Christmas early with my side of the family and that he knew she was in San Antonio at meme & poppy's house.

Santa brought Megan a baby that is potty training and an ironing board. Two things that she asked for and was super excited to receive. When she walked into the living room, she just sat down in front of her new toys and looked at them - she wasn't sure if the gifts were for her or not. It was so adorable.

***Meg with her new "cat" Belle***

***Meg opening her swimming puppy******Meg's new puppy that swims***

Please forgive me for a lack of details...I can't remember what I did yesterday, much less the details from over a month ago.

I'm still alive :)

With surgery and the holidays, I haven't had any time to post. I can't wait to post about our Thanksgiving/Christmas celebration with my side of the family and our Christmas Eve/Christmas Day celebration with Jarrad's family. I am downloading pictures and getting organized, and will post all about it soon.

Recovery from my surgery is going well. I have had good days and bad days (more good than bad). I did have a set back because I was over doing it. The doctor chuckled when I told him I was walking a mile a day only 2.5 weeks after my surgery - apparently that was too much too soon. Live and learn :) I'm definitely looking forward to the day I'm completely recovered...Jarrad just wasn't made to be a wife. Although, I love that he's getting a dose of my life. The saying "A women's work is never done" has new meaning to Jarrad. I think I'll milk this for all it's worth :)

Until next time....hope everyone has a very safe and happy new year.

Surgery details...

Well, my surgery went very well. The doctor said my back was a lot more unstable than he originally thought. The pain that I had in my legs is gone, now I just have pain from recovering from surgery. I had a four level lumbar spinal fusion.

The first few days at the hospital were pretty rough. I'm pretty sure that the nurses were waking me up every five minutes to take my vitals and give me pills. I was released on Thursday and came home to my parents house for the first few weeks of my recovery. Mom is planning on taking Meg and I back to Mansfield at the end of next week. Mom has been an angel while I'm recovering. She's making sure I take my meds and am comfortable.


I have a follow up appt tomorrow, so should know more about my recovery and how long it will take after that. I should be able to go back to work on Monday and I'm excited about that :) It will help the days go by. There is only so much sitting around I can do.